Rolls R Leisure v Yorkshire Main

Was scheduled for Tusday 12th May. Now to be played on Thursday 14th May due to cricket taking precedence at the Rolls sports venue.

This clashes with the NSL Cup final at Watnall Road, and means that if football is to be on the agenda on Tuesday, it's another trip to Radcliffe Olympic to see them play Sutton Tn AFC .....

Saturday 9th May 2009

Radcliffe Olympic 1-0 Forest Town -- CML Supreme Division

Radcliffe clinched the Central Midlands Football League Supreme Division title thanks to a 44th minute Craig Anderson penalty.


Craig Anderson sends Jason Johnson the wrong way from the spot

Sorry about the picture quality - we had just moved from that end of the pitch to get a coffee, and I took this from about 100 yards away. With my camera it was asking a bit much to hope for a clear picture from that range!!

A game that would see Radcliffe crowned champions if they won - but if Forest Town won, the title would not be decided until next weekend.

Kev has been doing the majority of the driving recently, but this was a great opportunity to try out my "new" second-hand car. Entertainment provided via the DAB radio station "Planet Rock" -- now that the local league footie has finished, what a nice change to hear a bit of Rush and Cinderella instead of Colin Bloody Slater!

Not been to Wharfe Lane before, so out came the Garmin. Our friendly Evening Post correspondent Brian Dennett had pre-warned us to park in the British Legion car-park - so we took his advice and at leaving time we were glad we did -- getting out of Wharfe Lane must have been a nightmare patience buster -- there were 290 present, and it seemed like everyone had a car!!!

Walked from the Legion to the ground - and what a setting greeted us. Very picturesque. Trees all around - a grassy bank ( named "cheapskate hill" for apparent reasons ) and horses grazing in pastures....and with the church in the background -- it's all so very "England".......Nice it may be, but we were pleased it wasn't raining - no cover, no hard standing and no seats...



A very well observed minutes silence was held before the game - in memory of Clipstone's Mr. Rick Morris who passed away last weekend.

Both teams began with the usual early sparring - after 25 minutes or so this left us reflecting on the lack of serious attemps on goal ..... then the game really took off. Radcliffe put together the games first decent attack, but Danny Tighe was on hand to block the eventual shot. Soon after an Aaron Korol free-kick was well met by AlexHaughton, but the Radcliffe striker was stretching and could only manage to deflect the ball over the bar. The same player the forced a great save from Forest Town keeper Jason Johnson with a well placed header.

Tighe fired a free-kick at goal on 34 that brought out a terrific diving save from James Mountain - the Radcliffe stopper diving to his right to palm away.

Forest Town provided the next chance as well - a break down the right by Craig Jackson - his ball into the box well met by James McCann but his drive was acrobatically kept out by Mountain.

As the ball went back into the Forest Town area, Referee Mr. Booker penalised Lee Bowler for holding onto Carl Westcarr - and Olympic skipper CRAIG ANDERSON stepped up and calmly slotted home, sending Johnson the wrong way. H-T 1-0


Local favourite Nick Kennerdale poses for the camera!!

We had changed ends with 10 minutes of the 1st half remaining, hoping to be at the head of the half-time beverage queue. Kev, bless him, volunteered to get the drinks and emerged some 15 minutes later, prompting the old " ya bin ta Brazil for me coffee then" from yours truly.... if looks could kill!!!! As it was the coffee and tea were well worth wating for - my coffee was strong and hot and although served in a syrofoam cup, it was a big 'un and was great value at £0.50 .....8/10 for the coffee and same from Kev for the tea.

Now -- you would think that the 2nd half would be a passionate, blood tingling affair bearing in mind the importance of the result of this game, but it wasn't. Forest Town tried hard to break down the resolute Olympic defence, but Wayne Halcro and James Spence were determined that they kept a clean sheet.

I took no notes at all during the second half - there were plenty of "scribes" present, and more than a few snappers -- some of the cameras on show gave me a bit of a complex!!! How much do those things cost? Lenses about 2 foot long - blimey I felt like hiding my little Fuji. I'm sure a full match report will be on the clubs' respective websites soon.


And this was not the biggest

Full time - the air ringing with ",Campiones, Campiones" we headed down the road to the car and got straight out onto the main drag. With Deep Purple giving it large with "Woman From Tokyo" and "Pictures Of Home" we entered the A52 - then no hassle, apart from one silly woman not knowing which lane she wanted at the bottom of the A611 bypass - home by 5:20pm ....

Images from the game

Admission £3
Attendance -- someone mentioned 290
Programme -- £1
Tea/coffee £0.50 - excellent

Tuesday - Blidworth v Ollerton Town

Wednesday 6th May 2009

Eastwood Badgers 1-2 Retford Badgers -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup Final

Notts F.A's flagship final was played yet again at the Meadow Lane home of Notts County - not the best playing surface you will see locally, but the teams overcame the poor pitch and played out a really entertaining final.

Eastwood fielded a very strong line-up, while Retford were missing marksman Mick Godber and regular keeper Ross Turner.

Eastwood's keeper Ian Deakin made four of five superb stops as Retford showed their opponents how to play football. If this is what the Retford fans watch every week, they must be among some of the happiest fans in the non-league scene. Marvelous stuff, and one save in particular from a Paul Grimes header was well worth the £5 entry fee. H-T 0-0

Eastwood took the lead on 53 - Lindon Meikle's drive was fumbled by Retford stopper Chris Kingston and IAN HOLMES was on hand at the far post to tap in.

Both teams continued to provide entertaining football, and Retford were rewarded for their attacking play on 84 when BEN CHAMBERS tapped in after Deakin had pulled off yet another superb save.

With 3 of the 4 minutes of added time played we were settling for extra time - but it was not to be. A ball played to the right wing, a neat bit of control, a great cross and a fantastic drive from the edge of the box from STUART LUDLAM that flew past Deakin.........great goal, but with the Eastwood players appealing for an offside that never came, the old saying "play to the whistle" came to mind. As soon as Eastwood restarted the game, Referee Mick Leslie blew for full time. F-T 1-2

Man of the match ( voted for by the match officials) : Eastwood keeper Ian Deakin

Link to Evening Post article

Admission £5

Programme - not the usual ten-bob effort - this was proper even though it was £2

Attendance - n/k

Tea/coffee - didn't bother.

Chips -- I like Notts County's chips, but they were not available today!!!!!!!

Saturday -- CMLS top of the table clash - Radcliffe Oly v Forest Town.

Monday 4th May 2009

Westella & Willerby 0-2 Sutton Town AFC -- CML League Challenge Cup final

Sutton boss Danny Bryant

Played at the Impact Arena, home of Alfreton Town FC. Looks a bit tatty nowadays - could really do with a bit of TLC, but the pitch was not too bad to say there had been a match on it just 24 hours previously.

Not too many present, but other Bank Holiday attractions included the Womens FA cup final at Pride Park, and the NCEL cup final at Staveley.

We stood behind the goal again! Although this time it was by choice - you get a great view from the terracing behind the far goal. And there was plenty of room!!

Kev looking for someone to talk to!!

The National Anthem was played as the teams lined up to be presented to League and sponsor officials - and I had to admit that out of all the "music" served up pre-match, this was the only song I knew!!!



A well observed minutes silence was held in memory of Clipstone Welfare Secretary Mr. Rick Morris who sadly passed away on Saturday.

Westella were an unknown quantity to both myself and Kev, but the East Riding outfit are striving for a top three finish in the CML Premier Division having lost only three out of 26 league games played so far this season.

'Ella created the games first real chance in the 10th minute - a shot from left winger Andy Coverdale taking a deflection onto the far post with Sutton keeper Mark Frost well beaten.

Sutton replied two minutes later when Richard Guest nodded a Gaz Davey free-kick onto the bar. A series of corners were won halfway through the first period as the Snipes tried to impose themselves on the game, but some of their tackles were a bit strong for Referee Andy Wood and he booked Sutton's Pete Stubley and Richard Guest for poor challenges.

Stubley played Daniel O'Donnell on 43, but 'Ella keeper Liam Taylor blocked well. Taylor also made a great stop seconds later after Steve Bayliss met Kyle Ludlow's corner at the far post. H-T 0-0

Had a walk around to the tea bar during the break, but after queuing for a cuppa for 5 minutes with the line not moving at all, we gave up and made our way back to the terracing.

Westella started the second half well enough, forcing a couple of saves from Frost, but they went behind in the 64th minute. O'Donnell made a super run through the midfield before laying the ball into the path of PETER STUBLEY who made no mistake slotting past Taylor - he was then mobbed by his team-mates.....

Ouch!!!!!

'Ella skipper Lee Jackson was booked soon after for a reckless challenge on Stubley, probably the last thing the striker needed after being squished!! Stubley almost doubled the Snipes' lead on 74, turning well before firing just wide.

Sutton made the game safe with three minutes to go. Stubley jinked his way into the box and when three Westella defenders appeared to bring him down, Mr. Wood awarded Sutton a spot-kick. A bit soft really, but LUKE SHIELS wasn't bothered - and he stepped up and fired wide of Taylor's despairing dive.


Luke Shiels wheels away after netting from the spot

Cue another crushing, but this time Manager Danny Bryant was on the receiving end!!


Squish!!

After three minutes of added time, Mr. Wood brought proceedings to an end - F-T 0-2

Not bad entertainment, and although Westella gave a good performance, Sutton had just that little bit extra and ended up deserving winners.

More images from the game

Admission £4

Attendance -- no idea... could have been 150 ish?

Programme - £1

Wednesday -- Badgers v Badgers at Meadow Lane

Saturday 2nd May 2009

Belper Town 0-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels -- UniBond Div 1 South play-off final

We set off to Christchurch Meadow with thoughts of a delicious pork and stuffing cob on our minds.....we got there and had a look over the fence to see the queue for the snack bar was horrendous - so that was that!

Mind you, we never anticipated such a large crowd.... and it took us a while to actually get into the ground - queuing at Belper??? Turns out there were 801 in attendance - my guess at 650 was not far out!! Anyway, no snap, no programme, no tea....but a great game!!

A solitary 18th minute goal from Steels' no. 9 ANDY RING settled the game, but plenty of chances were created by both sides. On reflection, you have to say the best team on the day were Stockbridge - Belper tried to raise their game after the break but a combination of great defending and pure bad luck meant that the Sheffield outfit are now proudly in the UniBond Premier Division. How long they'll stay there is another matter altogether.....

We stood, unusually for us, behind a goal. No seats were free, and the best available space was directly behind the goal that the home team were to defend in the first half. Not bad - we had a great view of the goal - and watched the ball all the way into the net after Ring had slotted calmly under Belper keeper Leigh Walker. We also had a terrific view of what was a stonewall penalty - but the mistimed slide by Walker went unpunished by the Referee.

Things went downhill for us after the break when we were joined behind the goal by a bunch of Belper "fans". If calling the Stocksbridge players "fat", and shouting "look at his man-boobs" represents Belper's finest, then lord help the club! Not a lot of support for their team, they were more interested in taking the p**s out of the opposition. Well, the opposition had the last laugh - and were fully deserving of the win.

We raced for the car at the final whistle having changed ends with 10 to go - and thanks to some skillful driving and pedestrian avoidance by Kev, we had left the ground by 10 to five!! Back home by 20 past.....

Attendance 801
Admission £7
Programme - never saw one!

Monday afternoon we are off to Derbyshire again... this time to the Impact Arena to see Sutton Tn AFC take on Westella & Willerby in the CMFL cup final.